Always/Never: The Quest for Safety, Control, and Survivability - Part 1

Intro - 0:00
A nuclearized NATO - 2:14
Nuclear sharing - 8:09
A confluence of conditions - 16:36
Separating use from possession - 25:37
Use control evolves - 35:29
The always/never problem - 46:09
Always/Never: The Quest for Safety, Control & Survivability is a first-person documentary film about the use, control, detonation safety, and survivability of US nuclear weapons with an emphasis on the contributions of the DOE/NNSA nuclear weapon laboratories from 1945 to 1991. The historical interaction between technology, military operations, and national policy has never before been told in this detail.
Learn more at 1.usa.gov/1Bijsh8.
2014-17473 V

[@kenklein4783]

I thought I was the only wierdo who is fascinated by nuclear policy and Cold War history. The documentaries are priceless for geeks like us. I have a veritable library of Cold War, and nuclear policy books at home as well.

[@TheDoctor1225]

Not a wierdo at all. I lived through the last 20+ years of the Cold War and remember seeing the Berlin Wall come down as the Soviet Union disintegrated. It's amazing to watch, and important to remember so that history is remembered - not the version of history that someone wants you to know.

[@frankknudsen842]

Ooops. My wife says that.

[@louisvarre2197]

I often ask myself, “Would our government REALLY...” Would we fight the Soviets in non-proxy theaters? We (the US) clearly dropped 2 bombs on Japan, however, Japan had no way to counter the attack. But the Soviets, they could certainly give us a run for our money. Part of me believes that we were paranoid and afraid of the USSR, and they of us. But any nuclear instigation would certainly result in retaliation, which would be detrimental to humanity. I’m in awe when I consider all the possibilities. Part of me hopes the Cold War was just financial and social posturing by the super powers and that they wouldn’t condemn this earth and its population. Even so, the shear number of technical problems and issues could have certainly resulted in horrendous results. I’m thankful our nation’s maintained the human components and safeguards to protect against such possibilities. However, we are eerily close in attitude and posture with Russia as we were then. Ughhhh

[@robbiereilly]

It's a fascinating topic and one that shaped public policy and cultural ways for many decades. It's just as reasonable to interested in this era and topic as it is for someone to be interested in any other. Nothing weird about it.

[@tonybalm1513]

We are the educated ones who really believe this could happen and has nearly happened several times in the past!!!

[@barrybolden2621]

An update to 2022 is needed. Especially in light of the new political reality.

[@sartainja]

Especially since we really do not know what Putin’s end game will be. He is going retiring peacefully with his watch collection and his antique car.

[@MaciusSzwed]

US provoked a war with Russia, US will fight to the last ukrainian! Judas Zelensky the highest paid US actor and clown will make sure of it.@@sartainja

[@josephastier7421]

New reality? MAD still holds.

[@jimsvideos7201]

What a remarkable collection of interviews.

[@genebohannon8820]

And America's got talent gets millions of views. It's a good thing we do have pal devices!

[@Micr0chiP]

Thanks for the upload

[@tolli4919]

thanks @SandiaLabs for uploading this!

[@kevinsmith9502]

I love this stuff.I find it fascinating.

[@allandavis8201]

Being a military brat and a veteran myself I grew up and served in the years when the Cold War was at its warmest and was under no illusion that nuclear war was a real possibility, had I known how easily weapons could have been used in the early years I would have been really scared, not just scared. This documentary lifts a lid on a side of weapons control that is little known outside of the higher military echelons. I am really glad that the United Kingdom, my Home and country, has our own nuclear deterrent system as if we had to wait for the USA to authorise the use of weapons “on loan” to us then my country would be gone before that authority ever arrived. It is a pity that the USA had to use the weapons on Japan to bring WWII to an end in the least costly way in terms of human life, but in the most costly way in terms of world security and safety, I honestly believe that the Cold War would still have happened, with or without nuclear weapons, even if a more conventional end to the Pacific and world war had happened, but that is all “pie in the sky” we are where we are and thank goodness no one or no nation has ever been tempted or forced to use nuclear weapons thus destroying life as we know it. At least the “strangelove” scenario is now a distant bad dream and weapons release is more tightly controlled, but they do say “never say never” !!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing this excellent quality and informative documentary. 👍🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@spraudoggy]

Well stated.

[@robertbensema6268]

Weapons release under tighter control? Our silo computers here in the USA use the old, big floppy discs. Their computers are that old!!! Why not just leave nuke security to an old pong game?!? Crazy how many close calls we’ve had. Scary crazy.

[@TheBestDog]

I’m saddened to read our British cousin has lost faith in our (USA) nuclear umbrella. Rest assured, for there is no doubt, we -Americans *will* extinct ourselves hand-in-hand with our allies to demonstrate our resolve.

[@frankpienkosky5688]

the US push for nuclear weapons was instigated by the very real threat Germany....[and even Japan].. were working on them too...could you imagine what would have happened if they had gotten them first?

[@JG-mp5nb]

@@frankpienkosky5688 Our first targeting choice was Germany, specifically Berlin. The Germans surrendering removed them from the targeting list. That left Japan…

[@KarlKrogmann]

"Hello Dimitri?"

[@josephastier7421]

Wow what a look into history. Great material.

[@SandiaLabs]

"Always/Never," a #documentary by Sandia National Labs, shares the story from the dawn of the nuclear age to the end of the Cold War of the national labs’ #history of work for the safety and security of #nuclear weapons. 1.usa.gov/1Bijsh8

[@stephenverchinski409]

Sign the pledge to end building new nuclear weapons. In a climate emergency it is a totally dumb thing to do.

[@jwadaow]

@@stephenverchinski409 What connection is there?

[@pontiacgpse]

What beginner books do you recommend about Nuclear strategy?

[@MarioMadness1]

This is a good doc. I wanna work for these guys one day

[@paulavery366]

Too bad that the Sandia guys didn't get to review the Boeing 737 MAX flight control system. This is a great video.

[@jfrtbikgkdhjbeep9974]

is it fully loaded? tell it

[@chaoticsystem2211]

not enough potential victims...

[@dominicseanmccann6300]

Nice of em to put' safety' features on the things. Very reasurring.

[@mrjones7222]

Thanks

[@deaustin4018]

Curtis LeMay, a truly great war hero, and in the 60's a really scary dude.

[@cquinn4555]

My favorite general of all time! Gen. Curtis E. (Bombs away) Lemay! You need a scary dude to do the tough jobs.

[@barracuda7018]

Not really, he was a risk taker, during Cuba crises he knew exactly that the US enjoyed a massive superiority over the Soviets in terms of nuclear delivery systems and he wanted to go a step further because he also knew that Kruschev would never dare to pull the trigger first.

[@cquinn4555]

Your right ... I guess we should have sent the Girl Scouts to Japan to negotiate ... history always wants to look back and point out mistakes of our military ... anyone can do that ... but when you're in the middle of it you gotta find someone to get the job done. Job=win. It was total war.

[@TheMacemen]

@@BlackMasakari Facts. Don't start a fight if you can't get hit. The million upon millions of civilians in the Philippines, and Chinese citys. British and American bases and surrounding areas. Plus thee tribes in the areas, that were slaghtered. They were brutal and infantic race at the time. Hence WHY WE BOMBED instead of invaded! Saved millions! Was it horrible, yes. Was it needed, absolutely yes. Even some survivors agree with why. They were of the thought, win or die for the leader. Also, if we would have invaded. And they would have fought how they were taught. Thee entire island would be an American/British island. They would have been totally wiped out. So, as bad as it sounds. Could have been WAY worse

[@t.b.5115]

His personal politics were absolutely terrifying. I am glad that Eisenhower and Kennedy never fully accepted his policies.

[@TheZothor]

Nice

[@verystablegenius8398]

"Come browse through our new atomic warhead line-up. This year, Accidental Detonation Resistant features come standard on every model"

[@whirledpeas3477]

Can I get a good trade in for my older model?

[@pizzafrenzyman]

The biggest lesson from Dr. Strangelove is that the Rooskies have a Doomsday device, and that they have seen the Big Board.

[@millhousemillard2140]

And we cannot have a mine shaft gap

[@peterkuykendall3636]

And a fella could have a pretty good time in Dallas, err, Vegas with all that stuff.

[@dwgwnr1969]

George C Scott

[@mikeholmstrom1899]

The AIR-2 Genie missile did not have a PAL device. One of my concerns of a remote controlled PAL is if there's a break in the chain of control, how can a retaliation strike be conducted? I also see from the WIki on PAL that China & Pakistan may not have PAL installed on their nuclear weapons. Related to the lack of PAL could be a scenario like in "By Dawn's Early Light", where just a single rogue nuclear strike cascades in alternating, larger retaliatory strikes.

[@kevinscott9499]

Yes my favorite documentary...only intelligent people watch these shows

[@Zyion]

Kevin Scott that’s not true, I’m watching it.

[@kevinbaird7277]

Great programme, hard to imagine that a rogue German pilot could have taken off in his jet and dropped a 💣 on Russian soil, scary, thank god I wasn't born back then, scary to think these 💣's had no safety trigger for over 10 years.

[@blurglide]

I'm very disappointed CardiB is nowhere to be found in this video!

[@Transblucency]

So it's the Rick and Morty of nuclear strategy shows? I've heard you have to be pretty smart to enjoy that show.

[@desm4541]

@@Zyion me too

[@kevindunne5753]

The subject of nuclear weapons and the use of such weapons is both scary but fascinating , nuclear weapons are a like a big stick often kept back to shake at the nation's that threatens other nations, Cuban missile crisis was one of the times when the stick was taken out from under the stairs (figure of speech) Ted Theodore Roosevelt quoted once walk quietly and carry a big stick, nuclear weapons are the big stick

[@cat637d]

Sandia Laboratories, the GOLD standard of keeping free people FREE!

[@michealkelly9441]

Eisenhower was concerned about how much $$ was being used for defense...if he could see it today

[@kelleybrown1666]

When the department of war became the department of defense, America ironically became more paranoid and bloodthirsty. George Carlin was correct.

[@stephenverchinski409]

@@kelleybrown1666 actually the Pentagon was slated to become a hospital and the rest was supposed to go to an Office of War, not even a Department.

[@josadams4673]

Make Know Mistake he knew where it, was all headed. Theres a speech on KZbin where he comments about keeping our eye on the Military Industrial complex & referred that it could very easily get outa hand..

[@thomass4471]

@@josadams4673 That would be his farewell speech just a few days before he left office.

[@davelowets]

You think several billion dollars back then was a drop in the bucket?

[@patrickwalsh2884]

Use control and PAL equipment, oh what fun in the USAF. Great working with SNL, DNA and NSA on all of this stuff during my AF career. How's MET working out?

[@josephastier7421]

Shut.

[@pablodiazdebrito8735]

The tension between presidential control of the nuclear arsenal and the real need to use it in a matter of minutes in the face of a surprise attack has never really been resolved. In the event of war in Europe, many nuclear weapons could have fallen into Soviet hands or not been authorised for use in time.

[@Texsasranger10]

exciting

[@nunyabusiness8538]

i feel like they could’ve manufactured a plug that wouldve prevented accidental detonation simply by making the physical plug connection interface in such a way that would be extremely difficult to replicate, or difficult to tap into without the proper plug geometry

[@20chocsaday]

Extremely difficult means a definite probably of finding the solution. Much in the same way as bank accounts can be hacked.

[@Johnnycdrums]

Cool seeing the German insignia's on those F-86's. Too bad they didn't make it in time for "Mig Alley".

[@stephenverchinski409]

The PAL device also depended on your batteries working. I recall Henry Street from SNL

[@paulavery366]

A 4 digit code was hardly safe enough, ever!

[@chuckfults9256]

I'm pretty keen on watching all the videos on the cold war or atomic bomb history and this has been on youscrewed for over 4yrs now and this is the first time seeing this? I guess if a video isn't promoted on youscrewed recommended list or you don't put in the exact title name, you don't get to see it in due time on youscrewed anymore? not good youscrewed!

[@2pikbone]

I like that, I’ve never heard it called youscrewed before. Can I steal that?

[@benquinneyiii7941]

Well which is it?

[@shashidharshettar3846]

Question?, who tells the President to Press The Nuke Button & will the US public will be informed within 30-60 mins of pressing the Nuke?.

[@oceanhome2023]

Would it make any sense to reveal these procedures and co ordinate with Russia to improve everyone’s safety ?

[@californiaslastgasp6847]

idk but I know that PAL was offered to Pakistan because the US is afraid that terrorists will steal their nukes. Pakistan declined.

[@johnlaccohee-joslin4477]

I would go one step further and say lets all sit down round the table and talk about getting rid of these weapons altogether. Mankind has enough problems because of his stupidity without putting a weapon of this kind into anyones ability to use . There is one thing that i see as being a drawback and that is America. The first user of this weapon and the only user of this weapon, right the way to present day, yes, today America still is using atomic weapons against others , only now they are in the form of depleted urainium shells and bombs, what is know as a dirty bomb, enough of these have been used to the point wbere even if common sense were to prevail the mess cannot be cleared up. So my feeling are that tbe idea of empire building needs to be looked at along with the idea of trying to asert one countries beliefs or ideas on another needs to be stopped first and foremost, the world does not need one boss with a big stick, and even if it did i really think that America has shown that it is not that person , it is clearly too hot headed ás it showed in the cuban crisis, a country with bases close to 2000 all over the world in other peoples lands, goes ape if one country put just one base up, but cannot see how this applies to them, making them the agressor by far, but refusing point blank to change this as it is with Japan at present even though there are more bases there than enough and it is not their country, But talks about sovereignty but only applies it to themselves, this is,what makes them clearly not the country to be top of the tree. The world needs to learn that it should all work together to ensure that there is no need for any one nation to even think along the lines of worlds policeman. The first thing it seems we all need to learn is honest, and then the words" I would like" rather than I WANT. We still see the latter when it comes the countries like Russia, there are still those who refuse to take note that the soviet union fell apart years ago and is now the federation of Russia, but the times i hear that old phrase the soviets, makes me angry, if you cannot accept that the change has taken place then how are you going to move forwards towards world peace if you are constantly insult others and do your level best to intimidate them, which is just what occupying the Russian boarder is all about, as said, i can still remember the Cuban crisis, just for ONE base, its a dam good job that other countries do not follow the example of America because ww3 would have happened years ago, but try getting America to see this is near on impossible despite of the friction it causes. I think that we need to adress our history first, and that would mean that America for a start would have to be honest and admit that it was Russia who played the biggest part in ending the last war, and it was not cheap, it cost 28million lives, we hear a lot about the poor jews five million lost, when to me at least twenty eight million is bar far a bigger price to pay and a sacrifice that is worthy of note and respect. Secondly, stop looking for people or countries to call enermy, its been going on far too long, when they talk about buryingbthe hatchet, it does not mean in someone elses head, i think a better term would be fo destroy the hatchet once and for all in all respects, things work so much better as we know,, when we all travel down the same path regardless of our skin colour our beleifs, and our polatics, which again could do with some radical changes, rather than the present mode of two steps forward and three steps bak. We may well consider the fact that there are others in the universe but lets first reckognize that we live on what appears to be a very rare happening in the universe , so lets look after it and look after ourselves accordingly. Lets improve with history rather than sink lower into stupidity.

[@JG-mp5nb]

@@johnlaccohee-joslin4477Ukraine gives up 3000 weapons and the delivery systems, is then attacked by it’s bigger neighbor Russia.

[@notthatdonald1385]

How many "mutually assured destruction" do we need?

[@theschmedaparadox1018]

Nucular. It's pronounced Nucular.

[@colinstewart1432]

Leon Smith looks very like John Paisley, the CIA guy who went missing on the Chesapeake. Even his posture is similar.

[@johnkern7075]

What is the sandi logo suppose to be? Looks native American.

[@StoneInMySandal]

It is. It’s a thunderbird.

[@Scott_Bates]

Hence the reason after 4 years, there are only 14 comments...

[@unclesam7660]

Hello! youre fairly recent! Kudos

[@chrismoller4272]

They should be able to disarm these things in flight. Incase of accidental launch. YES?

[@conzmoleman]

“A growing Soviet threat” citation needed

[@DogeickBateman]

Nerd

[@edgarvillarrealm.d2261]

🇨🇴👍😎👋🏼

[@nickpn23]

Did the US voluntarily share its safety and security developments with the USSR? I would imagine it was in their mutual interest to do so.

[@whirledpeas3477]

Yeah, because Russia has the best intentions for the safety of democracy?

[@nickpn23]

@@whirledpeas3477 I know, but it would make sense to do so. No point in secrecy about safety issues with H bombs. What advantage could be gained from withholding safety devices and insights?

[@mikeeads8427]

No, but Soviet spies had already stolen the designs. The US did offer the technology to Pakistan

[@benquinneyiii7941]

Missile gap

[@willwarden3489]

America 💪

[@bryanguzik]

"as EARLY AS 1960...it was clear safety devices would be required, etc...". By all means, don't strain yourselves. *before anyone starts, I'm aware of the (broad) missing context b/c it's the beginning of the film. Didn't keep it from sounding funny!

[@yancyfriend8954]

Think of the idiots in control of this power right now,we are in dangerous times

[@stephenverchinski409]

Then today you have a NATO General who openly espouses first strike.

[@TheDavidlloydjones]

The symphonic and military music is a wonderful addition: keeps us from hearing too much of that pesky factual stuff.

[@shayaakerman9438]

Hi need to watch this a politics assignment, any way I can get a transcript for the documentary, lol😂? I'm not joking

[@Tadesan]

Peter Faer of Duke University does not know how to pronounce the word nuclear. That doesn't surprise me coming from Duke University.

[@colinstewart1432]

Dook University ? Nooclear ?

[@Tadesan]

Lol. If I don't see Dr strangelove footage I'm going to be really irritated...

[@Tadesan]

Thank god.

[@Tom-ic7hw]

wow to see a b-61 trainer torn apart and laying. on the floor

[@Tom-ic7hw]

gmt 3 usn

[@Moppup]

35:04 I’m not sure he understands that civilians have absolutely no control over the military, as evidenced by the entire history of the United States. I love how people pay lip service to citizens while consistently making all of the decisions behind our backs. Edit: i understand that civilian control is intended to mean the government run by “civilians” and not active military leaders, but I feel that the term is disingenuous at best. The President and others are not civilians. They are privileged individuals with a government framework with immense power.

[@railgap]

We could have PALs on every nuclear weapon we have. Instead, we have PALs on virtually NO weapons we have. There is always a budget limit on safety, even when you're talking about the safety of millions of human lives and oh by the way an expensive piece of military kit...

[@viperbaron1]

Did anyone else notice how many blue-eyed men are featured in this video?

[@fireman-phil7307]

General Pattern was right. Winston Churchill was right. Eisenhower was wrong. The Russians should have been pushed back to Moscow. Remember they also attacked Poland. It wasn't just Germany. It's highly likely the Russian problem could have been dealt with before it escalated.

[@jamesritchie1594]

Giving final authority for release of nuclear weapons to the president is a very important safeguard against an accidental or rogue release of nuclear weapons. BUT.Biden's mental and cognitive acuity gives me the chills and causes me to wonder who is really in charge of our nuclear arsenal because I know it isn't him.

[@scruffguitar2]

Hope** it isn't him

[@66PHILB]

Is he really any less safe than Trump? I'm talking about the man who, while in office, demanded to know why the USA couldn't produce 10,000 new nuclear weapons until he was told it would cost almost all of the defence budget

[@whirledpeas3477]

Joe Biden is a great leader. 😆

[@danielwitmer3242]

@@whirledpeas3477 Question is? What is he capable of leading?

[@whirledpeas3477]

@@danielwitmer3242 What is reality. Answer please 🙏

[@rustyogburn1085]

Know history or you'll repeat it

[@melborja5152]

non terrestrial officer

[@whirledpeas3477]

Be well Mel

[@joanscott1611]

The utopian centimeter visually lie because germany emphatically worry but a unnatural freighter. windy, upbeat owl

[@aleksbakman7562]

Authorized by Trump?

[@fumanpoo4725]

We should use God's Thermonuclear Love!

[@whirledpeas3477]

That's some oxygen deprived thinking

[@fumanpoo4725]

@@whirledpeas3477 Praise Jesus' megatonnage!

[@F15CEAGLE]

2nd Peter 3:10.

[@nataliefoster5440]

The awesome t-shirt prominently train because rayon premenstrually cheat like a uneven literature. staking, physical ramie

[@fumanpoo4725]

You did too much LSD...

[@mbrah1181]

Is it me or is this documentary pro nuclear ? Right wing documentary

[@whirledpeas3477]

It's you Karen

[@DogeickBateman]

Ok communist

[@scruffguitar2]

Its a documentary that was produced by the company that designed and produced all the safety systems discussed... would be odd if they were anti nuclear wouldn't it? Left wing commentary

[@luckynedpepper9030]

Better right than left.

[@davidgraham4807]

It’s just factual

[@weinerdog137]

A kind of horrible comedy.

[@magna4100]

CRM 114.🤫